uarie, where they found Madame
Bernstein ready for the journey. The express was due to leave Paris
for Marseilles at 2.15 p.m. Twenty minutes before that hour a cab
drove up to the door, and in it Browne placed Madame Bernstein and
Katherine, following them himself. Wonderful is the power of a gift!
Browne carried the bag, he had given Katherine that morning, down to
the cab with his own hands, and without being asked to do so, placed it
on the seat beside her. He noticed that her right hand went out to
take it, and held it lovingly until they reached the station, where she
surrendered it to him again.

When they made their appearance on the platform an official hurried
forward to meet them, and conducted them forthwith to the special
saloon carriage Browne had bespoken for their use that morning. As she
stepped into it Katherine gave a little grateful glance at her lover to
show that she appreciated his generosity. Poor as she had always been,
she found it hard to realize what his wealth meant. And yet there were
many little signs to give her evidence of the fact--the obsequious
railway officials; his own majestic English servant, who brought them a
sheaf of papers without being instructed to do so; and last, but by no
means least, the very railway carriage itself, which was of the most
luxurious description. On Madame Bernstein entering the compartment
she placed herself in a corner, arranged her travelling-rug, her
smelling-salts, her papers, and her fan to her satisfaction; and by the
time she had settled down the journey had commenced. The train was an
express, and did not stop until it reached Laroche at 4.40. Here
afternoon tea was procured for the ladies; while on reaching Dijon, two
hours and a half later, it was discovered that an unusually luxurious
dinner had been ordered by telegraph, and was served in the second
compartment of the carriage. Having done justice to it, they
afterwards settled themselves down for the night. It is a very
significant fact that when Browne looks back upon that journey now, the
one most important fact, that strikes his memory, is that Madame
Bernstein fell asleep a little after eight o'clock, and remained so
until they had passed Pontanevaux. During the time she slept, Browne
was able to have a little private conversation with Katherine; and
whatever trouble he had taken to ensure the journey being a successful
one, he was amply compensated for it. At ten o'clock th